Potluck Newsletter

October 2024

Welcome

Hello and welcome to the Potluck Newsletter! This newsletter is primarily geared towards the growing community of artists we’ve been building with the festival (past and future). It is a way for people to connect with the planning team and stay updated on the latest news. It is also a way for us to archive the story of the festival and share information.

Our team is in full swing, planning for next year’s Potluck. We look forward to deepening the connection with all of the artists we have been working with over the past few years. Our philosophy is to work continuously with the artists over the years in order to grow the event as the individuals we work with grow.

Reflections & Highlights

Volume #1

by: Wesley Taylor

May 22nd -24th 2024 brought in the second annual The Potuck Detroit Festival. The three day event was a great continuation and evolution of last year's inaugural festival. The event was full of music, art, healing, memorialization, and joy. The Potluck represents a moment when we can celebrate and highlight our close community of amazing and talented artist friends. 

25 artists participated in this year’s festival. The majority of the artists are based in Detroit, but some traveled from as far as Syracuse, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. We enjoyed amazing workshops, food, music, and art demonstrations.

One highlight was the addition of the panel conversation on the movie American Fiction moderated by Megan Douglass. The panelists included, Dr.Chaz Antoine, Curtis Wallace, Miz Korona, and Wesley Taylor. This panel was a continuation of a passionate conversation that occurred during one of the planning gatherings on Zoom. When the film American Fiction was mentioned the energy and enthusiasm present in the conversation sparked an opportunity to expand the conversation and share it with the larger Potluck community.

During the panel we covered a wide range of topics including: the Black family, Black identity as it shows up in different forms in the Arts, “con-artistry” (a term coined by Dr. Chaz Antoine to describe how many Black folks become cons as a means of survival), and the array of strategies Black artists adopt in order to make it in the Arts. Hopefully we can build on these types of emergent conversations in Potlucks to come, exploring the various challenges and triumphs that artists face on a regular basis .

A challenge we had to overcome planning this year’s Festival was that none of the core team was on the ground in Detroit while we were planning. Konstance Ke-nee-go-keshek was working on several major projects in New York, Kendra was establishing her healing practice in the Bay Area, and Wes was in an architecture program in Stockholm, Sweden. What brought us through was that we were able to maintain our commitment to the festival and meet consistently on Zoom. Our practice of working as a team and the support from our artist participants made this challenge manageable.

Artist Spotlight

Miz Korona

by: Konstance Patton Ke-nee-go-keshek

Korona the Heart

Heart is the most important aspect of being an artist. Over the past two decades, I have had the pleasure of witnessing Miz Korona create bodies of masterworks straight from her heart. The ever-evolving Miz Korona, with love beaming from her character, is something to be admired and should be emulated. When I was a teenager my youngblood hip-hop-loving group of sisters lived to see music around the city, and when we would go see Korona’s shows, we were high off of her vibe. I met her at Menjos when I was too young to be there, and I remember her being so kind to my crew, we were all in awe because of it. They always say don't meet your heroes, but she was so warm and funny from the jump. Her artistry is prolific, as a vocalist, producer, designer, photographer, and visionary. The way she walks into a room and everyone smiles brighter, it is such a pleasure to see and to be close to. 

I moved to New York in 2005, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with a plan to use NY as a stepping stone to explore and create art around the world. My goal was to learn as much as possible and bring my skill sets home to Detroit. Miz Korona is integral in helping me bring my vision and work home. In 2016 I had the opportunity to work on my first project with Talking Dolls Studio thanks to Ill Weaver and Miz Korona. Our good friend, activist, and all-around amazing human being Sheddy Rollins had just been murdered and we were all in mourning. Sheddy was a close friend of mine and to many people in Detroit, working with Detroit Summer and living in Philly. I was paralyzed for about a year, and the first piece of work I created was a portrait of Sheddy. Korona helped me facilitate a mural-making workshop based on healing and sharing stories of lost loved ones. It was beautiful, and now the mural can be seen honoring Sheddy at Talking Dolls Studio, with the partnership eventually growing into The Potluck Detroit. 

When I started thinking through the potluck and the possibilities of connecting artists to build community, she was the first person who came to mind. I wanted all types of visionaries who inspire me to be a better artist and human. 

Miz Korona, thank you for being an inspiration and such an excellent ambassador to our city. If I had the key to the city I would give it to you and we would be having a ribbon-cutting ceremony at my mama’s house. Much love and I can say confidently that we are all rooting for you and can't wait to witness your next creative evolution. Thank you for being Detroit’s girlfriend. Much love, Konstance.

Please check out her album The Healer and the Heartbreaker. It is an audio and storytelling masterpiece. More about Miz Korona can be found at mizkorona.com and you can follow her on Instagram at @mizkorona. You can check out more work by Trilogy Beats @trilogybeats313.

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Nature’s Nuggets

Recipe

by: Kendra Patton

Greetings, fellow artists. In the world of creativity, we draw from the depths of our bodies, minds, and spirits. It's crucial to support these foundations, and one of the simplest ways to care for your body is by embracing the seasonal fruits and vegetables that nature provides.

As we transition into fall, let us shift our focus to the rich and grounding produce of the season. Fall fruits and vegetables, like apples, pears, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and butternut squash, are nature’s treasures, offering anti-inflammatory benefits and antioxidants that provide deep cellular nourishment. These gifts from the earth support our immune system, aid digestion, and promote heart health, all while adding warmth and grounding energy to our meals.

To honor the bounty of fall, below is a cozy and delicious butternut squash soup recipe, perfect for fueling your creative endeavors as the weather cools. This dairy-free soup is packed with nutrients and flavor, offering the warmth and nourishment your body craves this season.

Let’s embrace the shift in seasons and continue to nourish our creative journeys with each bite.

Cozy Butternut Squash Soup
*Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan

Ingredients:

  • 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil

  • 4 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Optional: 1/4 cup coconut milk for creaminess

  • Optional: 1 tsp sunflower seeds

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, heat avocado oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, sautéing until softened.

  2. Add the cubed butternut squash, vegetable broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the squash is tender.

  3. Use an immersion blender or transfer the soup in batches to a blender, blending until smooth.

  4. Stir in the coconut milk for added creaminess. Adjust seasoning to taste.

  5. Garnish with sunflower seeds. 

  6. Serve warm, and enjoy!

*Additional tips:
1. How to peel and seed a butternut squash

Call To Action

“Amped Up”
Mural by Curtis Wallace, May 2024
@curtis_wallace_art

Call to Action

Over the next few months we will be planning an event for the Fall, and launching a fundraising campaign. Please stay tuned for when we launch if you are interested in supporting The Potluck and please pass the word.